Slidable jaw face, open-end wrench



Oct. 6, 1959 I M. M. MaOLEAN 2,907243 SLIDABLE JAW FACE, OPEN-END WRENCH Filed Jan. '7, 1958 l8 /-'/8 IN VEN TOR.

- /5 /s Menf/y MMaoLean ATTD RN EYS 1 United States Patent SLIDABLE JAW FACE, OPEN-END WRENCH Mently M. MacLean, Paso Robles, Calif.

Application January 7, 1958, Serial No. 707,585

1 Claim. (Cl. 81-179) This invention relates to a tool, and more particularly to an open end wrench.

The object of the invention is to provide an open end wrench which includes on each end thereof a stationary jaw as well as a slidable jaw face so that workpieces or the like can.- be conveniently and readily gripped.

Another object of the invention is to provide an open end wrench which includes on each end thereof a gripping mechanism that comprises a slidable jaw face and a fixed jaw, the slidable jaw face being adapted to be moved by means of a finger piece, and wherein there is provided a coil spring for urging the slidable jaw face in one direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an open end wrench that is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the end wrench of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the end wrench or tool of the present invention in its entirety, and the tool 10 includes a handle or body portion 11 which has a gripping mechanism 12 and 12 on the ends thereof. The construction and operation of the mechanisms 12 and 12 is the same, except that one may be larger than the other so that different sizes of workpieces, nuts or the like can be conveniently engaged or gripped therein.

Thus, referring to the gripping mechanism 12, it will be seen that this mechanism includes a stationary jaw 13 which is provided with a plurality of teeth 14. Spaced from the stationary jaw 13 is a stationary base 20, and the base 20 includes a pair of angularly arranged inclined faces 15, Figure 4. The numeral 16 indicates an arcuate groove which is arranged at the junction of the faces 15.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided for each stationary jaw, a slidable jaw 17, and the slidable jaw 17 includes angularly arranged surfaces 18 which are adapted to slidably engage the faces of the base 20.

2 There is provided at the juncture of the surfaces 18, an arcuate tongue 19 which slidably engages the groove 16. A stop shoulder 21 is formed and arranged so as to limit inward movement of the movable jaw 17.

There is further provided adjacent the inner end portion of the jaw 17, a threaded opening 22, and the numeral 23 indicates a rod which has a threaded end portion 24 engaging the opening 22. The rod 23 is slidably mounted in a bore 25, and the bore 25 terminates in an outer enlarged recess or chamber 26. A U- shaped saddle or finger piece 27 is connected to the outer end of each rod 23, and the numeral 28 indicates a coil spring which is circumposed on each rod 23, a portion of the coil spring 28 projecting into the recess 26.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a tool which includes a stationary jaw on each end as well as a slidable jaw on each end. It is to be noted that each gripping mechanism 12 and 12 has the same function and construction, except that one may be larger than the other. The stationary jaw 13 is provided with a plurality of teeth 14, while the slidable jaw 17 has a plurality of teeth 29. It is to be noted that when the jaw 17 is to be moved, it is only necessary to manually depress the saddle 27, and this will move the rod 23 in the bore 25 so that the jaw 17 can be moved as for example from the solid line position shown in Figure 3 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3. This will have the practical effect of changing the size of the opening or space between the slidable and stationary jaws. Then, when manual pressure is released on the saddle 27, the spring 28 will urge the saddle 27 outwardly so as to exert a clamping action on the workpiece.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The teeth in the jaws 13 and 17 may be spaced at the ratio of 12 to a circle, the same as a box end wrench. The jaw 13 may have five pushing edges, and the tongue 19 is shaped so as to prevent accidental disengagement of the jaw 17 from the base 20. The saddle 27 is adapted to snap over the end of the rod 23.

Some of the advantages of the present invention are as follows. There is provided a fast gripping and release action, and the harder the pull the tighter the jaws will grip and this is especially suitable on nuts which have rounded edges. Also, the wrench will engage such a nut by a slight push and reverse action on the handle, and the jaw release button or saddle 2-7 is only needed when the wrench is being used in locations where it is hard to otherwise control the operation of the wrench. An important principle or concept of the presentinvention is the sliding action of one jaw.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

In an open end wrench, a body portion, a stationary jaw on one end of said body portion, a plurality of teeth disposed on said stationary jaw, a base spaced from said stationary jaw, said base including inclined angular arranged faces, there being an arcuate groove in said base at the juncture of said faces, a slidable jaw face mounted in said groove, said slidable jaw face including angularly arranged surfaces for slidably engaging the faces of the base, a curved tongue atthe juncture of said surfaces, said tongue slidably engaging said groove, a plurality of teeth on said slidable jaw face, a shoulder on said body portion defining a limit stop for engagement by said slidable jaw face, there being a threaded opening in the inner end of said slidable jaw face, said body portion being provided with a bore adjacent the end thereof, a rod extending through said bore and having a threaded end portion threadedly engaging the threaded opening in said slidable jaw face, said bore having its outer end portion terminating in an enlarged recess, a U-shaped saddle connected to the outer end of said rod, and a coil spring circumposed on said rod and having its ends engaged in said recess and said saddle, respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

